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Tracking the money race on 2012 Live

As part of POLITICO’s comprehensive coverage of the 2012 presidential race, 2012 Live is closely tracking the fundraising prowess of potential White House aspirants. All of the 2012 LIVE candidate pages list the total amount of money raised and spent by the potential candidates, as well as their current cash-on-hand totals.

POLITICO determines total campaign cash raised, spent and on-hand for presidential hopefuls by compiling campaign finance data from federal and state political committees controlled by the respective would-be candidates, dating from January 2009. Figures reflect the aggregate amounts for each presidential aspirant as of the most recent available state and/or federal filings. Because politicians control different numbers of PACs in different states with varying reporting schedules, figures may not reflect the complete campaign finance picture to date. As soon as a presidential hopeful files fundraising numbers from an actual presidential exploratory or candidate committee, that candidate's previous baseline fundraising numbers are zeroed out and tabulation starts anew. In those cases, the previous totals are detailed below.

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Figures also do not include money raised through nonprofit entities that report to the IRS instead of the FEC. While none of the political committees are official 2012 presidential campaign accounts that can be used to fund a White House bid, the money they spend helps boost the political profiles of the potential candidates by paying for travel and the early hiring of key consultants and staff.

What follows are brief summaries of the fundraising infrastructure controlled by each of the potential candidates.

NEWT GINGRICH

The former House speaker raises money through his federal American Solutions PAC. But he rakes in significantly more cash through a nonprofit group of the same name. Because that group reports its finances to the IRS and not the FEC, it is not included in 2012 LIVE’s tally of campaign cash. However, the group is a fundraising powerhouse, and when its cash is taken into account, Gingrich's hauls easily outstrip his potential rivals. He formed a presidential committee in the spring.More Info

BARACK OBAMA

The president’s fundraising efforts since his election have been confined to the Democratic National Committee, which, as a national party apparatus, is not included in any fundraising totals on 2012 Live. While his 2008 campaign committee, Obama for America, has been shelling out contributor refunds, it has not been taking in money, making it effectively an inactive committee. Despite that, the committee did report having over $3 million in the bank as of late 2010. He formed his actual reelection campaign in April of 2011.More Info

RON PAUL

The Texas congressman raises money through his federal Liberty PAC, in addition to his candidate committee. With Paul’s reelection never really in question, he has raised only minimal amounts of cash. He formed his actual presidential committee in May of 2011.More Info

BUDDY ROEMER

The former Louisiana governor formed a presidential exploratory committee in March of 2011. It represents the entirety of his fundraising infrastructure, and had not yet reported any fundraising numbers as of early April.

MITT ROMNEY

The former Massachusetts governor is credited for pioneering the practice of establishing PACs in different states to work around federal campaign finance rules and lay the groundwork for a presidential bid. In addition to his federal Free and Strong America PAC, Romney controls PACs of the same name in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Michigan and Alabama, which together make up the most extensive fundraising network employed by any presidential hopeful.More Info

RICK SANTORUM

Santorum formed a presidential committee in the spring. Prior to that, the former senator from Pennsylvania had his primary fundraising vehicle in America’s Foundation, a federal PAC. Santorum also controled the Keystone PAC in Pennsylvania and a committee of the same name in Iowa.More Info